California Code of Regulations
Title 23 - Waters
Division 1 - Central Valley Flood Protection Board
Chapter 1 - Organization, Powers and Standards
Article 8 - Standards
Section 123 - Pipelines, Conduits, and Utility Lines

Universal Citation: 23 CA Code of Regs 123

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 52, December 27, 2024

(a) The following definitions apply to this section:

(1) Delta Lowlands. "Delta Lowlands" means those lands within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that are approximately at the five- (5) foot contour and below as shown in Figure 8.04.

(2) Delta Uplands. "Delta Uplands" means those lands within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that are above the five- (5) foot contour as shown in Figure 8.04.

(b) Pipelines, conduits, utility lines, and appurtenant structures must conform to the following criteria:

(1) Pipelines, conduits, utility lines, utility poles, and appurtenant structures may not be installed within the levee section, within ten (10) feet of levee toes, or within the floodway during the flood season unless authorized by the General Manager based on reservoir levels, stream levels, and forecasted weather conditions on a case-by-case basis, pursuant to section 11.

(2) Appurtenant structures such as standpipes, utility poles, distribution boxes, guy wires, and anchors, but not including siphon breakers, are generally not permitted in or below the levee crown, on the levee slopes, or within ten (10) feet of the levee toes. Appurtenant structures may be permitted where they will not interfere with levee maintenance or flood fight activities.

(3) Appropriate, visible markers acceptable to the local maintaining agency may be required to identify the location of buried pipelines, conduits, and utility lines. A siphon breaker or other visible appurtenance may be considered an acceptable marker for the attached buried line. Markers must be made of durable, long lasting, fire-resistant material, and must be maintained by the permittee until the pipeline, conduit or utility line is properly abandoned.

(4) Pipelines, conduits, and utility lines that pose a threat or danger to levee maintenance or flood fight activities, such as high-voltage lines, gas lines, and high pressure fluid lines, must be distinctively labeled to identify the contents.

(5) Buried high-voltage lines of greater than twenty-four (24) volts are required to be protected with schedule 40 PVC conduit, or equivalent.

(6) Overhead electrical and communication lines must have a minimum vertical clearance above the levee crown and access ramps of twenty-one (21) feet for lines carrying 750 volts or less, and twenty-five (25) feet for lines carrying higher voltage.

(7) Fluid- or gas-carrying pipelines installed parallel to a levee must be a minimum distance of ten (10) feet from the levee toe and, where practical, may not encroach into the projected levee slope.

(8) Low-voltage electrical or communication lines of twenty-four (24) volts or less may be installed parallel to a levee and within ten (10) feet of the levee toe when it is demonstrated to be necessary and to not interfere with the integrity of levee, levee maintenance, inspection, or flood fight procedures.

(9) The board may require the applicant to have any pipelines, conduits, utility lines and appurtenant structures designed by a registered civil engineer.

(c) Pipelines, conduits, and utility lines installed within the floodway must conform to the following additional conditions:

(1) Pipelines, conduits, and utility lines installed within the floodway must have a minimum cover of five (5) feet beneath the low-water channel, and a minimum of two (2) feet in the remaining area of the floodway. A greater depth of cover may be required based upon the feasibility of achieving the required cover or local soil stability and channel hydraulics.

(2) Open-trench backfill to cover pipes must be placed in a manner consistent with floodway characteristics such as erosion, deposition, and streamflow velocities. This requirement is generally ensured by using suitable material and compacting to the density of adjacent undisturbed material. Compaction tests by a certified soils laboratory may be required.

(3) In general, any standard material may be used for pipelines or conduits to be installed within the floodway ten (10) feet or more from the levee toe or the projected levee slope.

(4) All debris that accumulates around utility poles and guy wires within the floodway must be completely removed following the flood season and immediately after major accumulations.

(5) Pipelines and conduits which are open to the waterway and which could cause flood damage from uncontrolled backflow during the design flood event shall have a readily accessible positive closure device. A flap gate is not a positive closure device.

(d) Pipelines, conduits, and utility lines installed through a levee must conform to the following additional conditions:

(1) The installation of a fluid- or gas- carrying pipeline in a levee section or within ten (10) feet of the toe parallel to the centerline is not permitted.

(2) Pipelines, conduits, and utility lines must be installed through a levee as nearly at a right angle to the levee centerline as practical.

(3) Buried pipelines, conduits, and utility lines that do not surface near the levee toes must have location markers near both levee toes.

(4) Buried pipelines, conduits, and utility lines that cross the levee at right angles must have a location marker located on the levee slope adjacent to either shoulder.

(5) Buried pipelines, conduits, and utility lines that cross the levee at other than right angles must have location markers on the levee slopes adjacent to each shoulder.

(6) Pipelines carrying gas or fluids under pressure must be confirmed free of leaks during construction by pressure tests, X-ray, or equivalent methods, and must be tested anytime after construction upon request of the board.

(7) Pipelines carrying gas or fluids under pressure must have a readily accessible rapid closure device located within ten (10) feet of the landside levee toe.

(8) Pipelines and conduits open to the waterway must have a readily accessible positive closure device unless it can be demonstrated it is not necessary. A flap gate is not a positive closure device.

(9) The side slopes of trenches excavated for the installation of pipelines, conduit, or utility lines may be no steeper than one (1) foot horizontal to one (1) foot vertical. The following are exceptions to this maximum slope requirement:
(A) For shallow installations above the flood plane, e.g., twelve (12) inches, vertical side slopes may be allowed.

(B) For that portion of the trench above the design freeboard, vertical side slopes may be allowed.

(10) The bottom width of trenches excavated for the installation of a pipeline, conduit, or utility line must be two (2) feet wider than the diameter of the pipeline or conduit, or two (2) times the pipe diameter, whichever is greater.

(11) The minimum cover for pipelines, conduits, and utility lines installed through the levee crown is twenty-four (24) inches. If it becomes necessary to raise a levee crown to provide minimum cover, the longitudinal slope of the crown must be a minimum of ten (10) feet horizontal to one (1) foot vertical. Where twenty-four (24) inches of cover is not practical, a concrete or other engineered cover is required.

(12) The minimum cover for pipelines, conduits, and utility lines installed within the levee slope is twelve (12) inches. Where the installation will not interfere with levee maintenance or flood fight activities, it may not be necessary to bury the line within the levee slopes.

(13) When practical, pipelines, conduits, and utility lines installed within a levee section must be separated from parallel pipelines, conduits, and utility lines by a minimum of twelve (12) inches, or the diameter of the largest pipeline, conduit, or utility line, whichever is larger, to a maximum of thirty-six (36) inches.

(14) When practical, pipelines, conduits, and utility lines must have a minimum vertical spacing of six (6) inches when crossing other pipelines, conduits, or utility lines.

(15) A siphon breaker with a protective housing may be required and must be installed off the levee crown roadway where it will not interfere with levee maintenance.

(16) Electrical and communication lines installed through a levee or within ten (10) feet of a levee toe must be encased in schedule 40 PVC conduit or equivalent. Low-voltage lines (24 volts or less) and fiber optic cable may be allowed without conduit if properly labeled.

(17) A standard reinforced concrete U-wall for levee erosion protection is required at the outlet end of a pipeline or conduit discharging within ten (10) feet of a levee toe. See Figures 8.05 and 8.06 for U-Wall design criteria.

(18) Existing levee erosion protection must be restored by the permittee if it is damaged during the installation of a pipeline, conduit, or utility line.

(19) The permittee must replant or reseed levee slopes to restore sod, grasses or other nonwoody ground covers that are destroyed or damaged during the installation of a pipeline, conduit, or utility line.

(20) Within the levee or within ten (10) feet of levee toes, any excavation for the installation of a pipeline, conduit, or utility line must be backfilled in four (4) to six- (6) inch layers with approved material and compacted to a relative compaction of not less than ninety (90) percent, per ASTM D1557- 91, dated 1991, which is incorporated by reference and above optimum moisture content or ninety-seven (97) percent, per ASTM D698-91, dated 1991, which is incorporated by reference and at or above optimum moisture content. Compaction tests by a certified soils laboratory will be required to verify compaction of backfill within a levee.

(21) Boring a pipeline or conduit through a levee is permitted if the following additional conditions are met:
(A) The invert of the pipeline or conduit must be located at least three (3) feet above the design flood plane.

(B) The pipeline or conduit must be butt-welded. Polyethylene pipes may be used as provided in subdivisions (f)(4)(A), (f)(4)(B), and (f)(4)(C) of this section.

(C) The pipeline or conduit must be installed by the bentonite boring method or equivalent. The bentonite boring method uses an auger followed by a pipe with multiple port openings through which a bentonite slurry is pumped to ensure sealing of any voids resulting from the boring process.

(e) Pipelines, conduits, and utility lines may be installed by the open cut-method through a levee below the design flood plane, or within the levee foundation under the following conditions:

(1) One or more of the following conditions must apply:
(A) The pipeline, conduit, or utility line will be maintained by a public agency with a history of good maintenance based upon annual maintenance or inspection reports.

(B) The levee is designed to withstand a depth of less than six (6) feet of water measured with respect to the elevation of the landside levee toe.

(C) The levee is designed to withstand a depth of less than twelve (12) feet of water measured with respect to the elevation of the landside levee toe and provides flood protection for a rural area, or an area where the board anticipates little future urban development.

(2) Pipelines open to the waterway must be a minimum of thirty (30) inches in diameter, and must have a readily accessible positive closure device installed on the waterward side.

(3) Seepage along pipelines, conduits, and utility lines must be prevented by either of the following methods:
(A) The pipeline, conduit, or utility line is encased in reinforced concrete cast against firm undisturbed earth.

(B) The conduit has reinforced concrete battered walls at an inclination of one (1) foot horizontal to four (4) feet vertical or flatter.

(4) The work must commence and be completed prior to the flood season.

(5) Levees located within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta lowlands may only be cut below the design flood plane after appropriate engineering studies are performed and approved.

(f) Pipelines, conduits, and utility lines may be installed under a levee or stream channel by tunneling, jacking, or boring, if the following conditions are met:

(1) The pipeline, conduit, or utility line is at least thirty (30) feet under the levee.

(2) The pipeline, conduit, or utility line is verified to have the required cover. A greater depth of cover may be required based upon the feasibility of achieving the required cover or on local soil stability and channel hydraulics.

(3) If the installation is to be more than fifty (50) feet below the levee and the entire floodway and streambed, the board may waive the requirement for a permit provided a letter of intent is filed with the board prior to commencement of the project.

(4) The portal and outlet of a tunnel, jacking, or boring must be a minimum distance of ten (10) feet beyond the projected levee slope without an approved stability and seepage analysis.

(5) Installation may occur during the flood season and when the water surface elevation in the floodway is expected to be above the elevation of the landside levee toe if adequate containment cells are constructed at the portal and outlet.

(6) The installation of a pipeline, conduit, or utility line under levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta lowlands requires adequate containment cells at the portal and outlet when the installation is less than fifty (50) feet below the streambed and levee toes.

(7) Pipelines carrying gas or fluids under pressure below a levee must have provision for rapid closure.

(8) Pipelines and conduits open to the waterway and below a levee must have a positive closure device which is accessible at all times unless it is demonstrated to be unnecessary. A flap gate is not a positive closure device.

(g) The following pipe materials are allowed within a levee section when designed to resist all anticipated loading conditions and properly installed:

(1) Galvanized iron pipe is allowed if all joints are threaded. Galvanized iron pipe joints must be corrosion protected with PVC tape or polyethylene tape wrapped to a thickness of thirty (30) mils or equivalent.

(2) Schedule 80 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe is allowed if it is entirely buried, all joints are threaded and the components were continually protected from ultraviolet radiation damage or were newly manufactured.

(3) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipe schedule 40, or better, may be used as a conduit for power or communication cables.

(4) High-density polyethylene pipe may be used for pipeline or conduit installations provided the following conditions are met:
(A) High-density polyethylene pipeline or conduit joints must be heat or electrofusion welded (ASTM Standard F1055-93, dated 1993 or D3261-93, dated 1993 which is incorporated by reference).

(B) High-density polyethylene pipelines and conduits must be designed to resist all anticipated loading conditions, and the design calculations must be submitted to the board.

(C) High-density polyethylene pipelines and conduits must be ultraviolet radiation protected.

(5) Cast-in-place reinforced concrete pipes and box culverts may be used above and below the design flood plane if the concrete is at least six (6) inches thick.

(6) Precast reinforced concrete pipes and box culverts and concrete cylinder pipes may be used above and below the design flood plane if the following conditions are met:
(A) Precast reinforced concrete pipe meets ASTM Specification C76-90, dated 1990 which is incorporated by reference.

(B) Precast reinforced concrete pipe joints and precast box culvert joints are encased in reinforced concrete cast-in-place against firm undisturbed earth.

(C) The cylinders of concrete cylinder pipes are welded and corrosion protected internally and externally.

(D) When installed below the design flood plane, precast reinforced concrete pipe and concrete cylinder pipe must be encased below the springline in concrete cast against undisturbed earth.

(7) Steel pipe may be used for all types of pipeline or conduit installations through a levee above the design flood plane if the pipe meets the following requirements:
(A) The steel pipe is resilient and not materially reduced in quality due to weathering, prior use or other deteriorating conditions.

(B) The steel pipe joints are butt-welded or threaded.

(C) The steel pipe installations are corrosion-proofed externally with a coating of material such as coal-tar enamel, asphalt-dipped wrap, mortar, PVC tape, or polyethylene tape wrapped to a thickness of thirty (30) mils, high solids epoxy, or equivalent.

(D) Unless a continuous internal lining of cement, mortar, or equivalent is provided, as appropriate for the fluid to be conveyed, new steel pipe installations may convey only non- corrosive material, and water is considered corrosive.

(E) Steel pipe installations must be designed to resist all anticipated loading conditions, and the design calculations must be submitted to the board. Steel pipe meeting the following criteria may be used without submittal of design calculations to the board:
(i) Twelve- (12) inches in diameter or less ten- (10) gauge steel pipe.

(ii) Greater than twelve- (12) inches and a maximum of thirty- (30) inches in diameter seven- (7) gauge steel pipe.

(iii) Greater than thirty- (30) inches and a maximum of forty-eight (48) inches in diameter three- (3) gauge steel pipe.

(h) The following materials are not allowed for pipelines or conduits used to carry natural gas or fluids:

(1) Aluminum pipe within a levee section or within ten (10) feet of levee toes.

(2) Cast iron pipe within a levee section or within ten (10) feet of levee toes.

(3) Pipe with flanges, flexible couplings, or other mechanical couplings within a levee section or within ten (10) feet of levee toes.

(4) Prestressed concrete pipe within a levee section or within ten (10) feet of levee toes.

1. New section and figures 8.04, 8.05 and 8.06 filed 9-30-96; operative 10-30-96 (Register 96, No. 40).

Note: Authority cited: Section 8571, Water Code. Reference: Sections 8608, 8710 and 8712, Water Code.

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